Human Biology of Afro-Caribbean Populations (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology, Series Number 45)

A comprehensive study of the microevolution of Caribbean populations of African descent, this 2006 book reviews the conditions endured by the slaves during their passage and in the plantations and how these conditions may have affected their own health and that of their descendants. Providing an evolutionary framework for understanding the epidemiology of common modern-day diseases such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes, it also looks at infectious diseases and their effect on the genetic make-up of Afro-Caribbean populations. Also covered are population genetics studies that have been used to understand the microevolutionary pathways for various populations, and demographic characteristics including the relationships between migration, family type and fertility. Ending with a case study of the Afro-Caribbean population of Limón, Costa Rica, this book is an essential resource for researchers working in biological anthropology, demography, and epidemiology, and for those interested in the African diaspora in the New World. 9780521819312 Half-title 3 Series-title 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Foreword 13 The Rise of the Garifuna 14 References 16 Acknowledgments 17 1 The African slave trade and the Caribbean 19 1.1 The Caribbean 19 1.2 The European invasion of the Caribbean and the early import of African slaves 19 1.3 The establishment of the slave trade: 1492–1650 21 1.4 The loss of Iberia’s supremacy: the 1600s 22 1.5 The establishment of the sugar plantation economy: the 1700s 24 1.6 Conditions for the slaves during the trans-Atlantic journey 26 1.7 Life conditions of the slaves in the Caribbean 30 1.7.1 The African slave in the rural setting 31 1.7.2 The house slave 46 1.8 Manumission, slave uprisings, and abolition 49 1.9 Conclusion 50 2 Obesity, hypertension, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes in Afro-Caribbean populations: an evolutionary overview 52 2.1 A brief description of the conditions 52 2.1.1 Hypertension 52 2.1.2 Obesity 54 2.1.3 Diabetes 56 2.2 Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and globalization 60 2.3 An attempt to summarize epidemiological data from the Caribbean 67 2.4 The thrifty-genotype and the thrifty-phenotype hypotheses: a review 80 2.5 The slavery hypothesis for hypertension among African-derived populations 82 2.6 Conclusion 85 3 Infectious disease epidemiology and Afro-Caribbean populations 88 3.1 An introduction to epidemiology 88 3.2 The Caribbean climate, population movements, and infectious disease 92 3.3 The epidemiologic transition in the Caribbean 93 3.4 Malaria 96 3.5 Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome 101 3.6 Gastrointestinal infectious diseases 103 3.7 HIV infection and AIDS 106 3.8 Tuberculosis 114 3.9 Yellow fever 119 3.10 Conclusion 123 4 Population genetics of Afro-Caribbean groups 126 4.1 The malaria hypothesis and abnormal hemoglobin poly-morphisms in the Caribbean 127 4.1.1 A review of human hemoglobins 127 4.1.2 The malaria hypothesis 127 4.1.3 Hb S in the Caribbean 132 4.2 Beta-Globin gene studies and the origin in Africa of Afro-Caribbean groups 133 4.3 Microevolution of Afro-Caribbean groups 137 4.4 Conclusion 141 5 Demography of Afro-Caribbean groups 143 5.1 Demography, biological anthropology, and human biology 143 5.2 Demographic transitions 145 5.3 A short review of fertility trends in Afro-Caribbean populations 147 5.4 Afro-Caribbean family structure 149 5.5 Family structure and fertility 156 5.6 Fecundity: contraception and reproductive health 158 5.6.1 Contraception 158 5.6.2 Reproductive health and fecundity 160 5.7 Conclusion: fertility in Afro-Caribbean groups 162 5.8 Migration in the Caribbean 163 5.8.1 A history of migration in the Caribbean 164 5.8.2 Migration, the family, and fertility 168 5.9 The demographic transition model in the Caribbean 170 5.10 Conclusion: migration and the demographic transition model in Afro-Caribbean groups 171 6 The Afro-Caribbean population in Limón, Costa Rica 173 6.1 A history of African-derived groups in Costa Rica 173 6.2 A history of the Afro-Limonense population 176 6.2.1 A short history of Limón I: 1500s–1870 177 6.2.2 A short history of Limón II: 1870 – present 179 6.3 The culture of Afro-Limonenses 190 6.4 Demography of the Afro-Limonense population 196 6.4.1 Migration 196 6.4.2 Mortality 197 6.4.3 Family structure 197 6.4.4 Fertility 199 6.4.5 Interethnic mating 202 6.5 Epidemiology of the Afro-Limonense population: infectious diseases 203 6.6 Epidemiology of the Afro-Limonense population: obesity, diabetes, and hypertension 208 6.7 Population genetics of the Afro-Limonense population 211 6.8 Conclusion 220 References 223 Useful websites 262 Index 264 This Book Reviews Population Genetics Studies That Have Been Used To Understand The Microevolutionary Pathways For Various Populations And Investigates Their Demographic Characteristics Including The Relationships Between Migration, Family Type And Fertility. Ending With A Case Study Of The Afro-caribbean Population Of Limon, Costa Rica, This Book Will Be A Resource For Researchers Working In Biological Anthropology, Demography, And Epidemiology, And For Those Interested In The African Diaspora In The New World.--jacket. The African Slave Trade And The Caribbean -- Obesity, Hypertension, And Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes In Afro-caribbean Populations : An Evolutionary Overview -- Infectious Disease Epidemiology And Afro-caribbean Populations -- Population Genetics Of Afro-caribbean Groups -- Demography Of Afro-caribbean Groups -- The Afro-caribbean Population In Limón, Costa Rica. Lorena Madrigal. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A comprehensive 2006 review of the health, demography and population genetics of Caribbean populations of African descent. It provides an evolutionary framework for understanding the epidemiology of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and the effects of infectious disease on the genetic make-up of these populations. A comprehensive review of the health, demography and population genetics of Carribbean populations of African descent. It provides an evolutionary framework for understanding the epidemiology of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and the effects of infectious disease on the genetic make-up of these populations The question of what geographical region is actually to be included in a book about the Caribbean is not as easy a question as it sounds.